Today’s Readings – Saturday of Week 13 of Ordinary Time - First Reading

Commentary on Amos 9:11-15

Today we have our final reading from Amos. It deals with the happiness that messianic times will bring. It raises a hope underlying Amos’ words, one that runs through the whole Hebrew Testament from Gen 3:15 on: God will bring blessing after judgement and will not ultimately reject Israel.

After many denunciations of hypocritical religion and unjust treatment of the poor, the prophet concludes on an upbeat note of hope for the future. The promises for the future include the restoration of the Davidic kingdom, material prosperity and the homeland recovered forever. The day is coming when the Lord will raise up again the “fallen hut” of David, which had come on hard times and was continually being humiliated by outsider conq … Continue

Yesterday’s Readings – Saint Oliver Plunkett

St Oliver Plunkett, Bishop and Martyr (Memorial)

Oliver Plunkett was born in Loughcrew, Co. Meath, Ireland in 1629 of well-to-do Anglo-Normal parentage. He was related by blood to a number of landowning families, such as the Earl of Fingall, Earl of Louth and Lord Dunsany. Until the age … Continue